Patents Examined by Olatunji Godo
  • Gasket and diaphragm for electrochemical cell
    Patent number: 10673033
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes a can configured to serve as one electric contact of the electrochemical cell, the can containing active materials, a diaphragm configured to serve as an opposite electric contact of the electrochemical cell, and a gasket that is initially of generally cylindrical shape, the diaphragm positioned inside the gasket in an opening of the can wherein an outer edge of the can is crimped onto the gasket, the gasket having an inner periphery inside the can and an outer periphery outside the can, the outer periphery comprising leaves that after crimping extend along an outer surface of the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Christophe Mille, Kunio Tsuruta, Kenjin Masumoto
  • Cable-type secondary battery
    Patent number: 10673047
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a cable type secondary battery which includes: a cable type electrode assembly including an inner electrode, a separator layer formed to surround the outer surface of the inner electrode and preventing a short-circuit between electrodes, and an outer electrode formed to surround the separator layer; a taping layer formed by spirally winding a sheet type tape so that it surrounds the outer surface of the cable type electrode assembly; and a packaging formed to surround the outer surface of the taping layer. According to the present disclosure, it is possible to prevent separation of the separator layer or the outer electrode, and thus to reinforce the bending characteristics of the cable type secondary battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: KG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: In-Sung Uhm, Je-Young Kim, Suk-In Noh, Young-Ji Yuk, Dong-Chan Lee
  • Power battery top cap structure, power battery and battery module
    Patent number: 10673032
    Abstract: A top cap structure for a power battery includes a first electrode assembly and a top cap piece. The first electrode assembly includes a first electrode column and a first connection block. The first connection block includes a main body and a compound portion that are bonded together. A base metal material of the main body is different from the base metal materials of the first electrode column and the compound portion. The compound portion includes a first connection hole and the main body includes a second connection hole. A top portion of the first electrode column includes a connection section. The connection section passes through the top cap piece, the second connection hole, and the first connection hole, and extends from the first connection hole. The connection section and the compound portion are welded together. The connection section is riveted to the second connection hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO., LIMITED
    Inventors: Zhijun Guo, Peng Wang
  • Housing for accommodating a stack of fuel cells, batteries or capacitors
    Patent number: 10673039
    Abstract: A housing is provided for accommodating a stack of fuel cells, batteries or capacitors, including a first half-shell and a second half-shell opposite the first half-shell, a first pressure plate arrangement and a second pressure plate arrangement opposite the first pressure plate arrangement, the stack being accommodated between the two half-shells and between the two pressure plate arrangements, each half-shell gripping each pressure plate arrangement on the outer face thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Hoefler, Paul Eitzenberger, Martin Moser, Lukas Wittchen
  • Method for connecting several galvanic cells and cell connector therefore
    Patent number: 10665846
    Abstract: A cell connector to connect a plurality of galvanic cells, system comprising a plurality of galvanic cells, and a method to connect a plurality of galvanic cells. The the cell connector including a longitudinal, planar base section having opposite-lying first and second longitudinal edges. A planar, first connecting tab is connected to the base section on the first longitudinal edge thereof, the plane of the first connecting tab being aligned at a right angle to the base section. A planar, second connecting tab is connected to the base section on the second longitudinal edge thereof, the plane of the second connecting tab being aligned at a right angle to the plane of the base section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: David Fauland
  • Surface-treated steel sheet for battery containers, battery container, and battery
    Patent number: 10665825
    Abstract: A surface-treated steel sheet for battery containers is provided. The surface-treated sheet is used to form a battery container for a battery. The battery uses a nonaqueous electrolytic solution as an electrolytic solution. The surface-treated steel sheet includes a base material made of steel and an iron-nickel diffusion layer formed by performing thermal diffusion treatment after forming a nickel plating layer at least on a surface of the base material to be located at the inner surface side of the battery container. The iron-nickel diffusion layer has an outermost layer of which a ratio of Ni and Fe is 7.5 or less as a molar ratio of Ni/Fe. The iron-nickel diffusion layer has a thickness of 0.6 ?m or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Toyo Kohan Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichirou Horie, Tatsuo Tomomori, Koh Yoshioka
  • Positive electrode active material, positive electrode, battery, battery pack, electronic device, electric vehicle, power storage device, and power system
    Patent number: 10665856
    Abstract: A positive electrode active material includes secondary particles obtained by aggregation of a plurality of primary particles. The primary particles include, core particles including a lithium composite oxide, and a layer that is provided on surfaces of the core particles and includes a lithium composite oxide. The lithium composite oxide included in the core particles and the lithium composite oxide included in the layer have the same composition or almost the same composition, and crystallinity of the lithium composite oxide included in the layer is lower than crystallinity of the lithium composite oxide included in the core particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Asuki Yanagihara, Shingo Nakasato, Yuki Niwata, Yosuke Hosoya
  • Thermal event detection and management system for an electric vehicle
    Patent number: 10658714
    Abstract: A method of controlling the battery system of an electric vehicle includes detecting a thermal event in a first battery pack of a plurality of battery packs of the battery system, and at least partially powering down the electric vehicle automatically in response to the detected thermal event. The method may also include initiating a thermal rejection scheme in response to the detected thermal event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Proterra Inc.
    Inventors: Dustin Grace, Brian Pevear
  • Liquid fuel reformer including a vaporizer and method of reforming liquid reformable fuel
    Patent number: 10647572
    Abstract: A liquid fuel reformer includes a fuel vaporizer which utilizes heat from an upstream source of heat, specifically, an electric heater, operable in the start-up mode of the reformer, and therefore independent of the reforming reaction zone of the reformer, to vaporize fuel in a downstream vaporization zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Watt Fuel Cell Corp.
    Inventors: Caine M. Finnerty, Paul DeWald
  • Staggered battery cell array with two-dimensional inline terminal edges
    Patent number: 10644282
    Abstract: An energy storage device including a staggered energy storage cell internal array with two-dimensional inline terminal edges is provided. The energy storage cells in a battery module may be staggered in an internal array, such that a first row of cells in a line are spaced apart, or offset, in a first direction from an immediately adjacent second row of cells in a line, and wherein a first cell in the second row of cells is offset from a first cell in the first row of cells in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. In some cases, at least two adjacent rows in the battery module may include energy storage cells that are offset from one another but aligned in one direction, such as, the second direction. A mechanical frame may define the arrangement of the energy storage cells relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: NIO USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Austin L. Newman, Alexander J. Smith
  • Frame equipped membrane electrode assembly and fuel cell
    Patent number: 10637077
    Abstract: A frame equipped membrane electrode assembly includes a membrane electrode assembly and a frame member. The frame member includes a first frame shaped sheet and a second frame shaped sheet. An inner peripheral portion of the first frame shaped sheet is joined to an outer peripheral portion of the membrane electrode assembly. The inner peripheral portion of the first frame shaped sheet is positioned between an outer peripheral portion of an anode and an outer peripheral portion of a cathode. An inner end of the second frame shaped sheet is positioned outside an outer end of the anode over the entire periphery. The outer end of the cathode is positioned outside the inner end of the second frame shaped sheet over the entire periphery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Ebato, Kentaro Ishida, Kenji Sasaki, Hiroyuki Tanaka, Takaaki Shikano
  • Cell connector, method for producing same and battery module
    Patent number: 10637031
    Abstract: A cell connector of a battery module comprising a first connecting region (31) formed for electrically conductive connection to a connection terminal (2) of a first battery cell and a second connecting region (32) formed for electrically conductive connection to a connection terminal (2) of a second battery cell, wherein the cell connector (1) has at least one first layer element (41) and one second layer element (42), and a first second surface (412) of the first layer element (41) and a second first surface (421) of the second layer element (42) are connected to one another, wherein the first layer element (41) has a first opening (51) formed to run continuously through the first layer element (41) and the second layer element (42) limits the depth of the first opening (51).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Moritz Pickhardt
  • Battery support and protection structure for a vehicle
    Patent number: 10632857
    Abstract: A battery support structure for a vehicle includes a first peripheral member configured to be supported by a longitudinal section of a vehicle frame. A second peripheral member has an end surface that selectively attaches at an inside surface of the first peripheral member to enclose a corner section of a battery containment area. Prior to fixed attachment of the first and second peripheral members, a slip plane is defined between the end surface and the inside surface to adjust the second peripheral member along the first peripheral member to a predefined dimension of the battery containment area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Shape Corp.
    Inventors: Joseph R. Matecki, Dennis V. Rupar, James H. Dodd
  • Electronic apparatus case and battery pack including the same
    Patent number: 10629869
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus case including a ventilation portion on at least one side of the electronic apparatus case is provided. The ventilation portion further includes: an outer wall portion including a first ventilation port; an inner wall portion including a second ventilation port provided in a staggered manner with respect to the first ventilation port of the outer wall portion; and a discharge port provided between the outer wall portion and the inner wall portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Nakamura, Masaaki Sugiyama
  • Battery pack with battery cells having asymmetrical packaging and symmetrical current flow paths
    Patent number: 10629915
    Abstract: A battery cell has positive and negative cell tabs protruding from a first edge and a cell stack-up within a pouch. Anode and cathode foils are connected to the cell tabs proximate the first edge, with the anode foils connected to each other proximate a second edge. An outermost current collector of the anode foils exists with respect to a thickness of the cell stack-up. The cathode foils are connected to the positive cell tab proximate the first edge. The anode foils are connected to each other and the negative cell tab proximate the second edge, such that the outermost current collector forms an internal bus bar between the first and second edges. The battery cell has asymmetrical packaging and symmetrical internal current paths. A system includes a battery pack driving a load, with the battery pack having battery cells constructed as set forth above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Evan J. Dawley, Sherman H. Zeng
  • Fuel cell system and control method therefor
    Patent number: 10622652
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel cell system and a control method therefor. An aspect of the present invention provides a fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell stack; a memory unit in which a plurality of current-voltage curves, which are determined according to operation conditions of the fuel cell stack, are stored; a measurement unit for detecting an operation condition of the fuel cell stack; and a control unit for calling a current-voltage curve which satisfies the operation condition of the fuel cell stack, detected by the measurement unit, and predicting the performance of the fuel cell stack according to the called current-voltage curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Chang Sun Kong, Jae Choon Yang
  • Methods for transitioning a fuel cell system between modes of operation
    Patent number: 10622649
    Abstract: Systems and methods for transitioning a fuel cell system between operating modes. The fuel cell system may be a SOFC system comprising Ni-containing anodes. The transitions may be from a shutdown mode to a hot standby mode, from a hot standby mode to a power ready hot standby mode, from a power ready hot standby mode to an operating mode, from an operating mode to a power ready hot standby mode, from a power ready hot standby mode to a hot standby mode, from a hot standby mode to a shutdown mode, and from an operating mode to a shutdown mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: LG FUEL CELL SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: Mark V. Scotto, Ted Ohrn, Shung-Ik Lee, JaeBong Choi
  • Secondary battery
    Patent number: 10622608
    Abstract: A secondary battery includes: a cylindrical can; an electrode assembly accommodated in the cylindrical can with an electrolyte; and a cap assembly sealing the cylindrical can. The cap assembly includes a cap-up having a terminal portion, a bent portion downwardly bent from the terminal portion, and an extending portion outwardly extending from the bent portion. The terminal portion has a smaller thickness than the extending portion, and a top-end height of the terminal portion of the cap-up is equal to or less than that of the cylindrical can.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sunggwi Ko, Geunho Seo
  • Apparatus for charging and discharging battery cell comprising insulation mask
    Patent number: 10615621
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a battery cell charging and discharging apparatus configured to charge and discharge a battery cell which is sealed in a state in which an electrode assembly is embedded in a battery case and includes a first die plate having a first charging pin which is connected to a first electrode terminal of the battery cell by being contacted thereto during a charging and discharging process of the battery cell. The first die plate includes an insulation mask of an electrical insulation material formed in a structure covering a remaining part of the battery cell excluding the first electrode terminal at a position corresponding to the first charging pin and mask fixing portions configured to fix both sides of the insulation mask so that a position of the insulation mask is set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Sung Pil Yoon, Jin Soo Lee
  • Electrolyte and lithium battery including the electrolyte
    Patent number: 10615454
    Abstract: An electrolyte and a lithium battery including the electrolyte, a positive electrode, and a negative electrode are provided. The electrolyte includes a lithium difluorophosphate (LiPO2F2), a sultam-based compound, and an organic solvent. The electrolyte may reduce an internal resistance increase rate of a lithium battery, and thus improve high-temperature stability of the lithium battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyunbong Choi, Miyoung Son, Harim Lee, Woocheol Shin, Makhmut Khasanov